Stanton's hat trick leads New Canaan past McMahon

Updated 10:24 pm, Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Brien McMahon's Erik Pinaud (7) attempts to edge out New Canaan's Brett Capone (7) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Erik Pinaud (7) attempts to edge out New Canaan's Brett Capone (7) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Alex Hutchins (17) takes a shot against Brien McMahon during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Alex Hutchins (17) takes a shot against Brien McMahon during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Michael Jean-Charles (17) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Michael Jean-Charles (17) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Michael Jean-Charles (17) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Michael Jean-Charles (17) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against New Canaan at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Holbrook (22) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Holbrook (22) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Alex Robey (10) controls the ball as Brien McMahon's Athila Dasilva (4) defends during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Alex Robey (10) controls the ball as Brien McMahon's Athila Dasilva (4) defends during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Hugo Potter (19) and Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) go after the ball during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Hugo Potter (19) and Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) go after the ball during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Chase Williams (20) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Chase Williams (20) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon'sKelvin Medina (5) defends against New Canaan's Brett Capone (7) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon'sKelvin Medina (5) defends against New Canaan's Brett Capone (7) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Brett Capone (4) recoils after a collision with New Canaan's Chase Williams (20) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Brett Capone (4) recoils after a collision with New Canaan's Chase Williams (20) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) splits Brien McMahon's defense during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) splits Brien McMahon's defense during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Brien McMahon's Mateo Sepulveda (10) and New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Brien McMahon's Mateo Sepulveda (10) and New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) and Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) go after the ball during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) and Brien McMahon's Kelvin Medina (5) go after the ball during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) runs for a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) runs for a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (5) gives teammate Hugo Potter (19) a pat on the back after scoring a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. less

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (5) gives teammate Hugo Potter (19) a pat on the back after scoring a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. ... more

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball as Brien McMahon's Justin Machintyre (13) and Kelvin Medina (5) defend during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. less

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball as Brien McMahon's Justin Machintyre (13) and Kelvin Medina (5) defend during the boys soccer game at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, ... more

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) receives a high-five from teammate Alex Robey (10) after scoring a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. less

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) receives a high-five from teammate Alex Robey (10) after scoring a goal during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, ... more

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) keeps his eye on the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

New Canaan's Henry Stanton (19) controls the ball during the boys soccer game against Brien McMahon High School at Conner Field in New Canaan on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.

Photo: Amy Mortensen

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Stanton's hat trick leads New Canaan past McMahon

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NEW CANAAN -- By starting its season with five losses in as many games, the New Canaan boys soccer team found itself in quite a hole, but the Rams are doing everything they can to dig their way out.

Over its last four games, New Canaan is unbeaten with a pair of ties sandwiched between two wins, including Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Brien McMahon at Connor Field.

Henry Stanton spearheaded the attack by scoring all three New Canaan goals for the natural hat trick.

"We realized that if we don't start winning these games or at least getting a point out of it, then states and FCIACs are out the window, so we're trying to turn it around before it's too late and everyone's going 100 percent," Stanton said. "In the beginning of the season, it seemed like every cross was getting blocked, but now we're producing more and getting more guys involved."

In what was anything but a sign of things to come, McMahon's Kelvin Medina gave his team the early advantage on a long, arching shot that found its way into the back of the net.

McMahon came into the contest on a two-game losing streak, so coach Ben Ingalls was hopeful that the early goal would give his team the spark it needed.

"We got the early goal and thought that momentum would carry us, but it quickly died when they got a goal of their own, and it felt apart," Ingalls said. "We normally don't get the early goal. We're supposed to win games like this and Bassick on Thursday. We were hoping to win both because that would give us a serious run at states."

Instead, New Canaan needed just eight minutes to draw even, as Stanton scored his first with Hugo Potter notching the assist.

Six minutes later, New Canaan took the lead and never looked back when Stanton scored unassisted with 25:25 remaining, as the Rams enjoyed a sizeable advantage in possession.

"They didn't get down. They got back into the game, and we went into the half 2-1 up which is good. I asked them to win both halves and they did that," New Canaan coach Rich Sutherland said. "We started off the season with some real good teams."

New Canaan had several shots at an insurance goal throughout the second half, as Alex Robey shot just high and Jack Dinnie appeared to hit the crossbar.

Stanton's third goal gave the Rams the two-goal cushion, and New Canaan's Eben Jones kept it that way when he made a kick save on defense that prevented a McMahon goal with about nine minutes remaining.

"We knew the importance of today that we had to get the victory. We allowed them that first goal, which was frustrating, but we came back into the game well, so overall it was pretty good," Sutherland said. "I thought we controlled the majority of the game. That takes us to four games unbeaten going into another three games that we'd like to be competitive in."